April 6, 2006

• One of my friends was complaining that this did not qualify as an actual entry so I guess I will have to add some words to it.

  
  

  I read all three installments of Jeffrey Archer’s prison diaries but finished part III much later than the first two. Of course, he maintained his innocence throughout while taking shots at his enemies. Some of them were actually substantiated by events that later took place. He also seems to have a valid claim that his conviction for perjury was due to a biased judge. A major witness, former ”friend”, who was supposed to give evidence to support that allegation disappeared as his appeal drew near. All I can say is tough luck, if what he declared was true.

  
  

  There are some appalling tales and they serve as a grim reminder of how, like it or not, class division exists in society. Most of the well-educated do not end up in prision and do not witness the not exactly pleasant way some people live their life. Also, prisons are classified under four categories, A, B, C and D. A for the most violent thugs and D for the non-violent. I do agree with Archer that defendants should be given their classification during trial. It would indeed be a harrowing experience for a catergory D prisoner to go through a category B prison with all the violent thugs and drug addicts. I think that would help to cut down on the suicide rate.

  
  

  Finally, Archer repeatedly laments at how prisoners’ families are punished together with prisoners are they are deprived of the prisoners’ company. As much as I am a fan of his, I should point out that there are not a lot of ways to penalise someone who has violated the law without their families suffering too.

  • 3:46 pm
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